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Posted by Patrick Moore - Volleyball - Tue, Aug 17, 2010
Liz Dempsey
Liz Dempsey
NAIA RELEASE

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (MadonnaCrusaders.com) - - The inaugural edition of the 2010 Tachikara-NAIA Volleyball Coaches' Top 25 Poll was released on Tuesday (August 17) and the Madonna University volleyball squad finds itself with the No. 21 ranking in the country. The poll is based upon votes from coaches representing each of the NAIA's conferences.

The Crusaders - who have captured at least a share in 12 of the last 13 Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference titles - are coming off of a 32-7 season and an appearance in the WHAC Championship's final match. MU returns eight letter winners including All-WHAC selections Karie Altman (Taylor, Mich. / St. Frances Cabrini) and Liz Dempsey (Westland, Mich. / Franklin).

Three-time defending national champion Fresno Pacific tops the poll after going 38-0 last season while WHAC rival Indiana Tech checks in at No. 11 and is the only other WHAC member in the Top 25.

In addition to Indiana Tech, MU is slated to face off with eight other teams that are either listed in the poll or receiving votes, starting with No. 23 Georgetown College on Aug. 28 at the UMD Early Bird Challenge. The Crusaders will also take on No. 7 Columbia, No. 15 Lewis-Clark, No. 17 Bellevue in addition to Embry-Riddle, Oklahoma Baptist and Aquinas who are all receiving votes in the poll.

MU fans can get their first look at the 2010 edition of the Crusaders this Friday (Aug. 20) with the annual Alumni Match before the Royal Blue and Gold starts the regular season a week from Friday (Aug. 27) against Spring Arbor at the Early Bird Challenge.

Contact: Patrick Moore (734) 423-5834